This is a great topic -- I struggle with it, too, as most of my 8th graders like to read books that seem "older" than they are.
I worked hard this summer to organize my classroom library. My solution was to create an EXCEL spreadsheet of every novel in my classroom, sortable by genre, title, and author. I created a link from each title to the Amazon.com website where the books are reviewed by Booklist or other sources. It was a lot of work this summer to create the original document, but now when I add a new novel to the library, it takes a minute to log it in and add a link. I then posted the document on my EDLINE page, along with an introductory letter that tells parents that if they see one of "my" books at home (they are all marked in big letters with my last name) and want to know what their child is reading, they can go to my page and look for the link. If parents are uncomfortable with any subject matter, it is their responsibility to let their child know. Also, if they want to read any novel in my classroom library, I am more than willing to lend them a book to "preread," as I think conversations between students and parents are crucial at this age. The idea came from a conversation with my brother in law, who is a voracious reader. He asked me one day what I was reading. Since I have read all the novels in my classroom library, he wanted to know how parents could easily access the information in my head!! :) Ms. Liz McGivern 8th grade Language Arts Hudson Memorial School
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